The holy month...musings

"Fast to be healthy," had said the Prophet (s.a.w.).

I was just thinking about Ramazan and wanted to see what it was really all about. I googled a bit and these are what I found out about it. Since it is said to be healthy, how come most of us gain weight instead of losing any? It is said to be a test of our endurance levels yet, we come across more people without any tolerance for others. The purpose of the whole month sometimes seems lost on everyone. What is the holy month of Ramazan really about?

Ramazan. That nice time of year when the amount of everyone's belief is heightened and more people end up going to the mosque, resulting in people praying on the roads. It's just like the Friday prayers. More people turn up for this prayer than any other. Everyone talks about it. All the roads empty out during the Magrib prayers when everyone goes to break their fast and pray.

While fasting and going hungry shortens our tempers and makes us less reasonable, it is the strength to over come such weakness that really counts. It is a test of our true faith and belief in our selves as well. It is about keeping ones ego in check and becoming a holistic person with a healthy self image and having a positive outlook on life. If we were to fast without praying a single prayer, there is really no need for us to be fasting. On the other hand, if we were fasting and praying yet, did not give a second thought about others and be inconsiderate and mean, there really is no purpose to your fast. It is meaningless since the whole aspect of it is lost apparently.

Ramazan is the month of fasting, intensive prayer, sacrifice and Divine worship. It is most important to remember this. However, most of us think of this month as a month where we come up with new recipes. More food is wasted in the month of Ramazan every year than any other month here in the Maldives. Every year, we hear those announcements and advice from certain people asking everyone not to waste food during this month. The amount of our food intake actually rise and most people gain weight during this month of fasting instead of losing some. However, it is supposed to make us lose those extra pounds and appear healthier.

For Maldivians, it is a time to show off their new expensive 'toys'. Everyone who can afford to, gets rid of their old car or motorcycle at cheap prices in their hurry to get a new, cool and flashier model for this month. It is a time for racing in the late evenings and into the night. The number of accidents alleviate during this month as more people take to the streets in style and with speed.

Perhaps it is a little known fact among most Maldivians but during Eid, it is tradition among most Muslim countries to give gifts to each other. It is a symbol of peace, friendship and brotherhood. However, this is not very commonly practiced among us. The more commonly used word 'Eid-Milan', literally means, 'embracing and celebrating together'. How come we don't celebrate in this way?

More people tend to recite the Qur’an during the nights said to be Lailathul Gadhri, however, there must a divine reason for the concealment of this date. Maybe it is for this very purpose. Should we do more on these nights alone? In some households no one is allowed to do anything other than recite the quran and pray on these certain nights, but is that how it should be?

The revelations of the Holy Qur'an commenced in this holy month. It is truly a holy month as many epic events in the Islamic history took place during this month. However, it does not mean that we are supposed to pray and be obedient servants of God only during this month. It is perhaps practice for everyone, to live like this, every month of the year.